Apparatus for degreasing cable reels



Aug. 11, 1964 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 S. MURAYAMA APPARATUS FOR DEGREASING CABLE REELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4- INVENTOR.

Suremi Murayama ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1964 s. MURAYAMA APPARATUS FOR DEGREASING CABLE REELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,144,032 APPARATUS FOR DEGREASING CABLE REELS Sntemi Murayama, East Brunswick, N..l., assignor to Ramco Equipment Corp., Hillside, Ni, a corporation Filed Jan. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 252,248 1 Claim. (Cl. 134-96) This invention relates in general to an apparatus for degreasing cable reels, and more specifically to an improved apparatus for cleaning cable reels which vary in size over a g1ven range.

In the manufacture of cable, a cleaning operation of the cable reels for inplant use results from an oil im pregnation operation which the cable and its reel must undergo prior to the application of lead sheathing to the cable. Therefore, when the cable is unwound from the reel for sheathing the empty reel is required to be cleaned before it can be reused. Heretofore, the cleaning of such reels presented considerable difficulty because the reels usually varied in size, and therefore each presented its specific problem in cleaning. Specially the reels were diflicult to handle thus rendering the cleaning thereof a relatively tedious, time consuming and manually difficult operation.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for facilitating the washing or degreasing of such reels for in plant use in which all sizes of cable reels are handled and cleaned with a minimum of labor and effort.

Another object is to provide apparatus for cleaning reels with a maximum of efficiency in a minimum of time. Still another object is to provide an improved apparatus provided with a readily adjustable spray system which can be brought close to the soiled surfaces of the reel regardless of its size.

Still another object is to provide apparatus for effecting a continuous operating wash cycle which includes the separation of the oil from the spent solution and the re-- circulation of the spent solution in the washing operation.

In accordance with this invention the foregoing objects, and other features and advantages, are attained by the method of rotatably supporting a reel to be cleaned in a cleaning tank and effecting a rotation of the reel as it is being washed by spraying a washing solution at elevated temperatures and pressure over the surfaces of the reel to be cleaned. The spray means are A adjustable to the given size of reel so that the streams of the wash solution are disposed in close proximity to the surface to be cleaned. The spent wash solution is then collected and returned to its source of supply, and the soil removed therefrom by a separation process. The desoiled wash solution is then recirculated to the spray means to effect continual circulation of the wash solution during the wash cycle. To remove traces of the washing solution from the surfaces of the reel, the wash cycle may be followed by a rinse cycle in which a rinse solution is sprayed onto the surfaces of the reel in the same manner as the wash solution was applied. The spent rinse solution is similarly collected and returned to its source of supply wherein it is de-soiled by a separation process. The de-soiled rinse solution is then recirculated to the spray means to effect a continual circulation of rinse solution during the rinse cycle.

In accordance with this invention there is herein set forth a novel apparatus to effect automation of the method described. Essentially the apparatus comprises a cleaning tank provided with means for rotatably supporting therein the reel to be cleaned. A drive means is operatively associated with reel supporting means to effect rotation of the reel during a cleaning operation.

Disposed within the cleaning tank are spray means which are rendered readily adjustable to accommodate various size reels. The spray means include a pair of angularly adjustable spray heads to accommodate the reel flanges of the various size reels with one spray head being rendered laterally adjusted with respect to the other to accommodate varying reel widths; and a spray lance adapted to extend through the hub of the reel. Accordingly the spray lance is adjustable in elevation to accommodate reels of various diameters. Each of the spray means is connected by suitable piping to a reservoir or tank which contains a supply of cleaning solution circulated to the spray means. During a cleaning operation the solution is pumped from the supply tank to the respective spray means.

In accordance with this invention the supply tank is connected in communication with the cleaning tank, so that the spent solution collected in the cleaning tank can be returned to the supply tank and reused. Operatively associated with the supply tank is a separating chamber in which the soil is separated from the cleaning solution by a skimming operation with the de-soiled solution being recirculated to the spray means for effecting a continuing uninterrupted cleaning operation.

In the illustrated embodiment the cleaning operation is preferably conducted by a wash cycle followed by a rinse cycle. For this reason two supply tanks are provided, one for the wash solution and one for the rinse solution, and a passageway with directing or valving means is provided for connecting the cleaning tank in communication with the respective supply tanks so that during the wash and rinse cycle the respective spent wash and rinse solution are returned to their appropriate supply tank. Means are also provided for heating and screening the cleaning solution in the respective supply tanks.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a novel reel cleaning apparatus which is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to fabricate and positive in operation.

Another feature resides in the provision that the spent solution is collected, de-soiled and recirculated for effecting a continuing cleaning operation. Another feature resides in the provision of novel spray heads that are both angularly and laterally adjustable for accommodating reels of various sizes within a given range of sizes.

Another feature resides in the provision of a method and apparatus that minimize the time, effort and labor required for cleaning reels.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the reel washing apparatus of this invention illustrating the various positions of the spray means with respect to the largest and smallest reel accommodated by the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view'of FIG. 1, showing the largest reel accommodated in its solid lines and the smallest reel accommodated shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail illustrating the spray head mounting.

A method for cleaning oil from a cable reel in accordance with this invention comprises the steps of supporting a cable reel so that it can be readily rotated at a relative slow rate, and spraying out the surfaces thereof with a cleaning solution at elevated temperature and pressures. The spray means is adjusted to accommodate variously sized reels so that the spray is directed to opposite sides of the reel flanges and the reel hub. The spent solution is then collected and returned to its source of supply wherein the spent solution is de-soiled by a skimming operation. The de-soiled solution is then recirculated to the spray means for reuse and the cycle repeated. The

cleaning operation may be performed in a two step cycle, each cycle operating as above described; the first cycle comprising a wash cycle which is followed by a rinse cycle to remove the traces of the wash solution. While the above methodcan be performed manually, it is preferred that the method be automatically performed by a cleaning apparatus to be described.

In accordance withthis invention the apparatus for cleaning'cable reels 11 and the like comprises a frame 12 constructed of suitable structural members 12A to define an elevated platform-13. Supported on the platform 13 is a cleaning tank 14 defined by rectangularly disposed side walls 14A and an inclined bottom Wall 1413 connected thereto. Preferably the cleaning tank 14 is fabricated of heavy steel plates suitably reinforced by structural steel members and electrically welded throughout. The bottom wall 14B of the cleaning tank slopes toward an opening 15 located adjacent the front wall thereof. The opening 15 in turnis connected in communication with a passageway 16 which is-connected to a pair-of supply tanks 17 and 18, containing a supply of wash solution or solvent and a supply of rinse solutions respectively, as will be hereinafter described. Thus it will be apparent that the respective supply tanks 17, 18 are disposed in side by side relationship at a lower level with respect to the cleaning tank 14.

In accordance with this invention means are disposed within the cleaning tank 14 for rotatably supporting therein a reel 11 to be cleaned. As shown the reel supporting means include a pair of spaced apart rollers 19 and Ztl. Each of the rollers 19, 20 are fabricated of large diameter pipe which are mounted on concentric shafts 19A, 20A rotatably journalled on the walls of the tank in anti-friction bearing means. Each of the rollers 19, 20 is provided with a pair of guide flanges 21' adjacent one end thereof. The purpose of the guide flanges 21 is to receive and locate one flange of reel 11 to be cleaned in a predetermined relationship for reasons to be hereinafter disclosed.

A drive means 22 is provided to effect rotation of the respective rollers 19, 20 and the reel 11 supported thereon. As shown the shaft 20A of one roller 20 is connected by a suitable coupler 23 to a drive spindle 24 of a suitable reduction gear train 25, which in turn is connected in drving relation to a motor means 26 by a belt drive 27. Thus the roller shaft 20 is connected in driving relationship with a drive motor 26 or other suitable prime mover. The driven roller shaft 20A in turn is connected in driving relationship with respect to the other roller shaft 19A by a flexible belt or chain drive 28 passing over a pulley or sprocket 29 connected to the respective roller shafts 19A, 20A. Actuation of the motor means 26 effects rotation of the respective roller shafts 19A, 20A accordingly. With the reel 11 placed in position on the respective rollers 19, 20, as seen in the drawing, rotation of the roller supports 19, 20 will impart a rotational movement to the reel 11 supported thereon during a cleaning operation.

In accordance with this invention spray means are provided to spray a cleaning solution over the surfaces of the reel 11 to be cleaned. The spray means of this invention comprises a pair of spray heads 30, 31 specifically constructed to straddle the respective flanges 11A, 11B of the reel to effect the cleaning thereof, and a spray lance 32 adapted to extend through the hub 11C of the reel for cleaning the interior thereof. In order to accommodate the largest and smallest reels which can be supported on the roller means, means are provided for adjustably positioning the respective spray means 31), 31 and 32 so that they will be placed in close proximity to the respective surfaces to be cleaned thereby, regardless of reel size which is being cleaned.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the spray heads and 31 are connected to a mounting tube 33 that extends transversely between the side walls 14A of the cleaning tank in spaced relationship to the roller support 19. Thus the position of the mounting tube 33 is such that it is spaced from the periphery of any of the reel flanges adapted to be supported on the rollers 19, 20. The mounting tube 33 is rotatably journaled, and has one end 33A extended beyond the side wall 14A of the tank 14 and to which there is fixed thereto a handle 34. By means of the handle 34, the mounting tube 33 may be angularly rotated.

Connected adjacent. to each end of the mounting tube 33 is a spray head 30, 31 which is adapted to be angularly adjusted with the mounting tube 33. with this invention the spray head 30 comprises an inlet conduit 30A which is disposed within the bore of the mounting tube 33, and has one end 30B thereof adapted to extend beyond the end of the mounting tube 33. Connected to the inlet conduit 30A of spray head 30 are a pair of spaced arm segments 30C, 30D which are disposed normal to the inlet conduit 30A, and extend radially through appropriate holes 33B formed in the mounting tube 33. The arrangement of the spray arms 30C, 30D is such that they will be disposed on either side of the reel flange 11A disposed between the guide flanges 21 fixed to the respective rollers. Sincethe reel flange 11A is predeterminately positioned by the guide flanges 21, spray head 30 is fixed with respect to the mounting tubes 33. Thus it will be apparent that angularadjustment of the mounting tube 33 will effect angular adjustment of the U-shaped spray head 30 with respect to each size reel. Each of the spray arms 30C, 30D is provided either with a series of orifices or nozzles 33' for directing streams of cleaning fluid onto the opposed surfaces of the reel flange 11A disposed therebetween. If desired the inner arm 39D of the U-shaped spray head 30 may have a lateral extension 30E connected to the outer end thereof for directing streams of fluid against the exterior surface of the reel hub 11C. To accommodate for relative wide reels, an extension piece 30F may be detachably connected to the lateral extension 36E by means of a quick detachable coupling of well known construction.

The other spray head 31 is substantially similar in construction to that described except that it is rendered laterally movable toward and away from the spray head 30, as well as being angularly adjustable therewith. This is attained by providing the tube 33 with an elongated slot 330. Accordingly, the inlet conduit 31A of the spray head 31 is mounted with tube 33 so that it can be slidably adjustable with respect thereto toward and away from the laterally fixedspray head 30. For this reason the inlet conduit 31A must be made sufliciently long so that in the most inwardly adjusted position of the spray head 31 for accommodating the smallest reel the end 31B of the conduit 31A will still extend beyond the end 33A of the tube 33 and handle 34 connected thereto. Therefore, it will be apparent that the spray arms 31C and 31D connected to the inlet conduit 31A can be readily adjusted laterally toward and away from spray head 30 so that arms 31C, 31D of spray head 31 can readily straddle the other flange of the smallest and largest reel accommodated by the rollers 19, 2t). Spray head 31 is also provided with a lateral extension 31E and detachable extension piece 31F similar to. that of spray head 30. For very narrow reels the extension pieces 39F, 31F of the respective spray heads 30, 31 can be readily disconnected. The spray arms 31C, 31D and the respective extensions 38E, 30F thereof are likewise provided with discharge orifices or nozzles 31 for directing streams of cleaning solution onto the reel flange 11B disposed therebetween.

It will be understood that the inlet ends 30B, 31B of the respective spray head inlet conduits 30A, 31A are connected to the pump supply line by a readily detachable coupling means. The pump supply line in turn is connected to the respective pumps 35', 36 utilized for pump- In accordance ing the wash or rinse solution from the respective supply tanks 17 and 18.

The respective wash and rinse pumps 35, 36 are of the vertical immersion type with submerged suction, and the pump motors are totally enclosed and fan cooled. Disposed within each of the supply tanks 17, 18 immediately adjacent the pump intake are a pair of strainer screens 37. The arrangement is such that the screen 37 can be individually removed and cleaned without effecting a shutdown of the apparatus.

In order to remove the oil from the interior surfaces of the reel hub 110, an adjustably positioned spray lance 32 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the spray lance 32 comprises an elongated conduit provided with a series of spaced discharge orifices or nozzles 38 for spraying streams of cleaning solution onto the interior surfaces of the reel hub 11C when placed in operative position. The lance 32 comprises a conduit which is readily retracted between operative position and inoperative position, as shown in FIG. 1. In the operative position the lance 32 extends transversely of the cleaning tank 14 and is disposed so that it extends through the reel hub 110. In order to accommodate for reels of varying sizes, a means is provided for adjusting the elevation of the lance 32. As shown the latter means comprises a series of stations or openings identified as A, B, C. Thus, depending on the size of a given reel, the lanch 32 is inserted into the appropriate opening A, B, or C which corresponds to a given size reel. To facilitate the operation and adjustment of the spray lance 32 it is designed with a quick acting disconnect coupling 39 on its inlet end by which it can be readily attached to the supply line 40. Thus the lance 32 can be quickly disengaged from the pump supply line 40. The disconnect coupling 39, as well as those for the respective spray heads 30, 31 are of the type that provides instantaneous shut-off on disconnect.

To supply the respective spray heads 30, 31 and lance 32 with heated wash or rinse solutions, suitable heating means are placed in the respective supply tanks 17, 18. For example, the heaters 41 may comprise panel type steam heating coils which will have suflicient heat transfer surface area to maintain the respective solution temperatures at their proper operating levels.

To return the respective spent wash or rinse solutions means are provided for appropriately valving the passageway 16 to direct the spent solution collected in the cleaning tank 14 to either the wash supply tank 17 or rinse supply tank 18, depending on which pump 35, 36 is operating. As shown in FIG. 2 the valve means comprise a diverter or valve plate 42 which is pneumatically operated by an air cylinder 43 acting through suitable mechanical linkage, and it is electrically interlocked with the wash and rinse pumps. Thus the operation of the pump determines the position of the diverter plate, and thereby insures the return of the respective spent wash or rinse solutions to the correct tank.

T0 de-soil the respective spent solution or to remove the oil therefrom an oil separator tank 45, 46 is provided as an integral part of the wash and rinse supply tanks 17 and 18 respectively. Associated with each oil separator tank 45, 46 and its respective supply tank 17, 18 is a transfer pump 45A, 46A which will cause the respective solutions in tanks 17, 18 to overflow continuously into the associated oil separator tanks 45, 46. The difference in the specific gravity between the respective solution and the oil which has been removed from the reel enable the separator to skim off the oil through ports 47, 48 respectively.

For the foregoing description, greasing machine is as follows:

A cable reel 11 to be cleaned is brought to the machine, and by means of a hoist (not shown) the reel 11 is lowered into position onto the drive rollers 19, 20 so that one flange 11A of the reel 11 is received between the roller guide flange 21. This insures the positioning of at least reel flange 11A with respect to its spray head 30.

the operation of the de- With the reel 11 in position the spray head 31 is laterally adjusted to accommodate the width of the reel, and the respective spray heads 30, 31 are then angularly adjusted by actuation of handle 34 so that the spray arms of the respective spray heads 30, 31 are disposed on either side of the respective reel flange 11A, 11B. ItI will be undertood that the lateral extensions 30F and 31F of the respective spray heads 30, 31 are either connected or disconnected as may be required by the size of a given reel. The inlets 30B, 31B of the respective spray heads 30, 31 are then connected to the supply line connecting to the pump means. The operator then positions the lance spray 32 into the proper lance position A, B or C, depending on the size of the reel, and the lance inlet 39 connected to the supply line 40. Indicators on the exterior of the machine may be provided to indicate the limits of lateral and angular adjustments of the spray heads 30, 31 for optimum spray patterns for a given reel being processed.

With the spray heads 30, 31 and lance. 32 properly adjusted, the roll drive 22 is started to slowly rotate the reel.

In a cleaning cycle requiring both a wash cycle and a rinse cycle, the wash pump 35 is first turned on causing streams of high pressure wash fluid at elevated temperatures to be sprayed over the surfaces of the reel to remove the oil therefrom. During the Wash cycle the spent solution is collected in the cleaning tank 14 and returned to the wash tank 17 by means of the return passageway 15. The solution in the wash tank under the action of the transfer pump 45A is caused to overflow or spill into an oil separating tank 45 wherein any oil returned thereto is skimmed off and passed through opening 47. In this manner relatively oil free wash solution is recirculated through the pump means 35 and to the spray means.

After a wash cycle has operated for a predeterminate period of time, the wash pump is turned off and the rinse pump 36 turned on. The rinse solution is then pumped and sprayed over the surfaces of the reel to remove the traces of the wash solution. It will be noted that when the rinse pump 36 is turned on the director plate 42 is shifted so that the rinse solution now collected in the cleaning tank 14 is directed to the rinse tank 18, where it is desoiled and recirculated in the same manner described with respect to the wash solution.

Upon completion of the rinse cycle the rinse pump is turned off and the spray lance 32 is removed. The spray heads 30, 31 are then retracted so that the cleaned reel 11 may be removed from the machine.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A washing machine for degreasing flanged cable reels of varying sizes and comprising:

(a) a frame structure,

(b) a cleaning tank supported on said frame structure,

(c) a pair of spaced rollers rotatably journaled between the walls of said cleaning tank for supporting a reel thereon,

(d) guide flanges connected to each of said rollers for receiving a reel flange to predetermine the position of the reel in said tank,

(e) means for rotating said rollers to effect rotation of a reel supporting thereon during a cleaning operation,

(1) means for spraying a cleaning solution over the surfaces to be cleaned,

(g) said spray means including retractable spray lance which is adapted to extend through the hub of said reel,

(It) means for adjusting the elevation of said lance, for

accommodating reels of varying sizes,

(i) a spray head mounting tube extending transversely of said tank,

(j) means for rotatably journalling said tube with said tank,

(k) a spray head mounted on said tube adjacent each end thereof,

(I) each of said spray heads including an inlet conduit disposed within said tube and extending beyond the adjacent end of said tube,

(m) a pair of spaced spray arms connected to each of said inlet conduits, said spray arms extending radially through said mounting tube,

(n) a handle means connected to the mounting tube to efiect angular displacement of the mounting tube and spray heads connected thereto to accommodate reels of various sizes,

(0) means for effecting lateral adjustment of one of said spray heads relative to the other,

(p) said latter means including a slot formed in said tube whereby the inlet conduit of one of said spray heads may be laterally shifted along said tube,

(q) a source of solution supply,

(r) said source including a wash tankfor containing a Wash solution,and a rinse tank for containing a rinse solution,

(s) means defining a passageway for connecting said cleaning tank in communication with each of said wash tankvand rinse tank whereby the spent solution collected in said cleaning tank is returned to its respective wash or rinse tank,

(t) valve means in said passageway for connecting said cleaning tank in communication with either the Wash tank or rinse tank to control the return of the spent solution to its respective tank,

(u) pump means for sequentially circulating the solu-, 7

tion in said wash tank, and rinse tankithrough said spray means during a cleaning operation,

( v) and means for separating the soil from the respective spent solutions.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

